BEIJING, March 2 -- Harbin women felt happier than most women in other cities in China, according to a Report on Chinese Women's Life Quality in 2005 that was released yesterday in Beijing.

    The report, based on a survey by the All-China Women's Federation's Huakun Consumer Guidance Center, shows that 77.3 percent of married women are the family decision makers when it comes to food, clothing, and essential commodities.

    More than 1,000 professional women from eight cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou Changsha, Chengdu, Xi'an, Nanning, and Harbin were questioned in the survey.

    Half of the surveyed women said they pooled their incomes with their husband's to spend together, while only another 2 percent preferred to give their money to their husband. Nearly 48 percent of the women said they could spend their income as they pleased.

    Among those who have already purchased houses, more than 30 percent of the woman said the ownership was under their name.

    Among clothes, cosmetics, exercise, books, communications, and traveling expenses, the first two were the women's biggest consumption items.

    Of the eight big cities, Beijing women spent an average 46 minutes, the longest time among working women, on going to work in the morning, followed by Guangzhou women with 41 minutes.

    Women from Changsha felt the most satisfied with their residential condition while women from Beijing and Xi'an were the most dissatisfied, citing the small living space.

    The survey also found that women from North China felt happier than those from South China.

    According to an official from women's Federation, the survey is conducted at the end of every year with the result released before each subsequent year's Women's Festival.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)